I went out for a few moments yesterday evening to buy some gifts for my grandchildren, for the holiday. I usually buy books, nice laminated ones, an item my sons may not be able to afford. And even though most of these grandchildren speak Yiddish, I insist on buying Hebrew books. I want to push them to be fully bi-lingual, for two reasons. First, I myself do not know Yiddish, and two, being literate in the country’s language is a “must” as far as I am concerned.
One son didn’t like my intended choice of book… he wanted a Yiddish book with a cassette attached, probably the better to keep his daughter occupied. Well, thankfully I didn’t see any, so I got a classic “concepts” book instead. (Not the one he vetoed a different one.) I suspect that I will always view any and all gift purchases for educational value. That has been ingrained by years of buying books and toys for Ricki.(I have virtually amassed a toy/book store at home for her.) And since this book is laminated, and I hope it will last for all of his family, as it grows, so I think that my thinking is not so far off. Thus in the end, I got what I thought was best, not necessarily what the child wanted.
How about you? Do you buy practical or what the child desires?
I wish I had something better to write today, more interesting…. But I will have to stop here, as the day is short and the work is long….
PS. Above is a picture of our Succoth-booth. It is the least decorated we have had in years, partially because of a prediction of rain, and probably a sign as well of my 16 year old’s addiction to computer. His heart was simply not into creating a fancy succah. A pity. Hopefully today I will get him to spruce it up a bit.
